Flowing-light devices

ABSTRACT

A cylindrical lenslike element is used with a multiple color light source to provide a flowing color effect. The source may be a lamp or reflected light. Mobile colored film may be used with the light source. The invention can be embodied in an advertising device, a lamp, etc. A day-night switching arrangement is also provided.

United States Patent Fukumitsu 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] FLOWING-LIGHT DEVICES 2,293,106 8/1942 Bourdakoff ..40/133 A [72] Inventor: Minoru Fukumitsu, Central PO. Box 327, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Tokyo, Japan 667,640 6/1929 France ..40/ 133 Filed: p 14, 1970 654,094 12/1937 Germany [21] Appl.No.: 72,144

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 681,434, Nov. 8, 1967, abandoned.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,247 9/1937 Glogau ..40/ 133 A 509,885 7/1939 GreatBritain... 510,015 7/1939 GreatBritain ..40/132E Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Richard Carter AttorneyWaters, Roditi & Schwartz [57] ABSTRACT A cylindrical lenslike element is used with a multiple color light source to provide a flowing color effect. The source may be a lamp or reflected light. Mobile colored film may be used with the light source. The invention can be embodied in an advertising device, a lamp, etc. A day-night switching arrangement is also provided.

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FLOWING-LIGIIT DEVICES This is a continuation of application, Ser. No. 681,434, filed Nov. 8, 1967, now abandoned.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved advertising device, wherein figures and letters change their colors as time goes by as though different kinds of luminous fluids were circulating within said device.

This invention also relates to a desk lamp with a flowingcolor mechanism, wherein colors of figures on an associated lamp shade vary beautifully and in a complex manner with a lapse of time, as if the colors were flowing.

This invention further relates to a decorative screen having patterns the colors of which vary in time as if they were flowmg.

This invention also relates to an outdoor advertising device for night and day use, which provides a beautiful color impression and flowing sensitivity in a cheap and simple manner.

In the advertising device according to the invention, as is different from known devices such as neon signs, several preselected colors vary endlessly in order to attract attention strongly. This performs an advertising function very effectively. An advantage of the invention is that there is little restriction in locating the device since its thickness in only slightly larger than that necessary to house one or more fluorescent lamps therein.

In further accordance with this invention, a lamp is provided which gives a beautiful appearance owing to the color variation effect without detracting from the main purpose of providing lighting. Such a device is suitable for use as a table lamp at coffee shops, restaurants and so forth. Advantageously, if a lamp of this invention is set on a table in a coffee shop, it serves not only to provide lighting for reading papers or books, but also it becomes a mobile element for interior decoration.

The screen according to this invention comprises internal illuminating means, circulating colored filters and transparent elements which constitute the patterns to provide the variation of color by cooperation with the filters. Due to this simple construction, the screen of this invention can be constructed relatively compact and does not require any complicated wiring, which has often been required in conventional devices for providing color variation. Moreover, the screen of this invention can provide similar color variations on each of four faces at the same time, without using any additional means. This partition or screen can be favorable setup, for example, as a low partition or wall in a teashop or a restaurant, as for a flower vase of a fishbowl.

Conventionally, there are many kinds of advertising devices such as painted boards and neon signs. Such painted boards utilize reflected light and so they are not effective at night, while neon signs are very effective in the night owing to ,their self-luminescent characteristic, but are not effective in the daytime. Besides, in the daytime neon signs often spoil the beauty of the environment and also they are expensive in installation and are complicated in their use of electrical wiring.

According to this invention, there is provided an automatic switching mechanism for enabling the utilization of the reflection of the natural light in the daytime and the emission of an artificial light from a self-contained luminescent device at night. Further, there is provided the concurrent switching of a coloring mechanism which gives a suitable color impression for promoting the advertising effect according to the conditions of illumination in the daytime and in the night. Thus, an object of this invention is to provide a simple and cheap advertising device fi L llg frrfiel switching mechanism. By using the QQ FtIiIs InVentiQn, an advertisement beautiful both in the aytime and in the night can be provided.

A device of this latter embodiment of the invention comp s mainly a reflective plate for reflective illumination and its replacing mechanism, colored film for internal transparent illumination and its driving mechanism, and a case containing an illuminating apparatus and an electric circuit for switching the reflective and the transparent illumination. Various desired letters and figures made of cylindrical lenslike transparent elements, which are the main constituents of the advertisement, are framed in the front plate of the case.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I. is a perspective view of an advertising device, in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention, with a display plate partially broken away in order to show the inner structure;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of FIG. I showing its inner structure;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are cross sections of some examples of the displaying advertisement part of the device according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section taken along line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modification having a circulating colored transparent film with figures drawn thereon;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross section of a desk lamp in accordance with a further embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cylindrical rotatable multicolor filter with alternately combined colors;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a lamp shade with some figures thereon;

FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross section taken along line XX of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section of the figures illustrating some principles of the invention;

FIG. 12 shows aperspective view of a decorative screen of this invention, with a part cutaway;

FIGS. 13a and 13b are cross sections of some embodiments of pattern portions of the screen;

FIG. 14 is a front view of a front plate of an outdoor advertising device, in accordance with another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 15 is a vertical cross section taken along line XV-XV of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of another embodiment of this invention, the upper plate of which is removed;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the sideplate being removed;

FIG. 18 shows an electric circuit for the automatic switching of an illuminated advertising mechanism;

1 FIG. 19 is a vertical axial section of a further embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 20 is a front view of the front panel of the apparatus shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a front view of a rotatable multicolor filter for use in the apparatus shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a front view of the apparatus with the front panel and filter mechanism removed;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of another device of this invention;

FIG. 24 shows a combination of a cylindrical lenslike transparent element and a colored reflective plate;

FIGS. 25a and 26a are vertical sections taken along line XXV-XXV of FIG. 24, with the addition of optical paths; and

FIGS. 25b and 26b show the colors which appear on the cylindrical lenslike element.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown a case 1 made of metal such as aluminum. Its inner surface is not painted and is left as it is for preserving its high reflectivity. If desired, this inner surface may be polished to form a mirror surface. A displaying plate 2 which shields the light is mounted on the front face of said case 1.

The displaying plate 2 is cut out in the shape of any desired figures or letters. Into the cut out portions, figures or letters 3 or 3' of the same shape are bonded, as shown in FIGS. 30 and 3b. The figures or letters are made of cylindrical lenslike light refractive transparent elements which preferably are collimators capable. of collecting light rays and transmitting them in parallel in order to optimize visibility ranges. These figures and letters are characterized in that these are made of colorless transparent materials, such as acrylic resin, to form cylindrical lenslike light refractive transparent elements, the direction of the generatrix and the shape of cross section of which vary according to the shape of said figures or letters.

The term cylindrical lenslike here used means that the lens has a cross-sectional shape which is not a part of a circle. Variations of this cross-sectional shape are produced due to the variation of thickness or width along the generation line, or due to the variation of the contour of the curved surface arbitrarily determined to fit any particular purpose. Colored transparent pellets 10 may be used to fill recesses as shown in FIG. 3a.

Within the case 1 there is disposed a fluorescent lamp which is surrounded by an endless belt formed by the colored transparent film 5 mounted between pulleys 6 and a driving shaft 7, the width of said belt being wide enough to span said figures and letters. The film is composed of suitable numbers of colored film members such as red, yellow and blue members. The endless belt is driven slowly by a low speed motor 8 (a speed reduction device may be used) through bevel gears 9 provided on the driving shaft.

With the device of this invention, constructed as described above, the light flux emitted from the inner fluorescent lamp emerges from the case 1 through the colored film 5 of the circulating endless belt and the figures made of the cylindrical lenslike elements, the generatrix or shape of cross section of which varies continuously. When the emergent light flux is observed from outside of the case 1, the color of the light varies continuously with the partial difference of the speed of the color change and the inversion of the emerging order of the colors, due to the effect of the cylindrical lenslike element of the figure or the letter 3. The colors vary as if many kinds of self-luminous viscous fluid are flowing gently within the case. This effect is caused by the fact that each part of the figure or letter has a different lens curvature and consequently a different refractive power. The reflectivity of the inner surface of the case 1 further complicates this color variation effectively. In fact, if desired, this inner surface may be made as in irregularly curved surface to generate a further complicated reflective effect.

Moreover, together with the above-described laterally circulating endless belt 5, another longitudinally circulating endless belt may be used to make further complicated coloring and flowing effects in addition to the longitudinal color variation.

Colored pellets 10 shown in FIG. 3a have the effect of enhancing the figures or letters when the lamp is turned off and to produce aventurine-type halftones when the lamp is turned on. I

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a colored transparent layer 5' on the surface of the fluorescent lamp 4 is painted directly thereon or is constituted by adhering colored transparent film such as colored cellophane paper to the lamp. The fluorescent lamp 4 is mounted on rotatable sockets 11 having contacts of the slip-ring type. The lamp is rotated around its own axis by a motor 8' by great trains 9', including a gear mounted on a metal fitting at one end of the lamp.

The longitudinal flowingdight effect can be obtained in this case with an extremely minimized thickness of the case. The colored transparent layer 5' disposed obliquely as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can provide a lateral color variation as well as the longitudinal color variation. By disposing the colors in the shape of curved lines or islands, the flowing-light color variation can be further complicated.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment in which various small figures 12 are drawn on the colored transparent film 5. The shapes of representative goods of the advertising company, funnies, mascots, trademarks, or titles may be used as these small figures appear in each advertising element 3 together with the flowing-light. These phenomena strongly attract an observers attention and retain observers in front of the device for at least one cycle of the belt.

In FIG. 7 are shown a lamp shade 21 with decorating figures and a rotating filter 22, both of which are supported by a wire frame F mounted on an incandescent bulb B. The shade 21 is, for example, cylindrical and provided with figures on a surface thereof, the figures being constituted by cylindrical lenslike transparent elements 27 made of plastic or the like, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The shade may preferably be made of thick paper or plastic or the like having a shading effect.

The above-mentioned.transparent elements 27 are inserted into or bonded at sites where said shade has cutouts in the shapes of said figures.

The rotatable filter 22 has a size smaller than that of the shade 21 and has a shape almost the same as that of the shade. The filter is positioned almost on the axis of the shade and is pivoted on the top end 23 of the wire which projects upwardly at right angles from the wire frame mounted on the incandescent bulb. For this purpose, a receiving hollow 24 is provided at the center of the top surface of the filter 22.

On the top surface of the filter 22 there are formed a plurality of bores 25 (FIG. 8) with flaps which give an angular moment, so that the filter 22 can rotate about said hollow 24 due to the ascending air current produced by the effect of heat radiation of the incandescent bulb when it is switched on. An opening is provided in the top surface of the shade for the ascending air current. By this arrangement, when the light is on, the filter 22 is rotated around the bulb inside the stationary shade without necessitating any supplemental driving power.

In FIG. 8, a perspective view of the rotating filter 22 is shown. The drum of the filter is constituted by combining color plates 26, 26' and 26", so that the color of the figures on the shade 21 varies successively.

As shown in FIG. 9, the varying light is directed through the figs. on the shade 21 from the inside..Since the light is viewed through the cylindrical lenslike transparent elements 37 which constitute the figures, as shown in FIG. 10 in cross section, it appears that the color of the figures changes as if it is flowing. Moreover, the action of said cylindrical lenslike transparent elements 27 is very effective in beautifying and complicating the variation of color.

In FIG. 11, for the purpose of explaining the effect of said transparent elements 27, there are illustrated two pairs of light fluxes which are viewed after passing through parts 28 and 29 of the filter 22 and after being refracted by the transparent elements 27. For explanation, it is supposed that the left half part 28 of the filter 22 shown by in FIG. 11 is colored in red and the right half part 29 shown by other hatching is colored blue. As to the pair of light fluxes 30, 30, shown in solid lines in the drawing, such fluxes cross with each other to therear of filter 22 and the flux 30 passes through the red part 28 of the filter 22 and is refracted at the transparent element 27 to come to eye 32, while the flux 30 passes through the blue part 29 of the filter 22 and is refracted at the transparent element 27 before arriving at eye 32.

As a result, the color of the transparent elements 27 appears red at the left side of the passage of the flux 30 and blue at the right side of the passage of the flux 30 as in the color of the filter. As to the other pair of fluxes 31 and 31' shown by dotted lines, these cross each other forward of the filter 22, the flux 31 passing through the blue part 29 of the filter being refracted by the transparent element 27 at the left side of the flux 31 before arriving at eye 32, while the flux 31' passing through the red part 28 of the filter is refractedby the transparent element 27 at the right side of the flux 31 before arriving at the eye.

As a result, the color of the transparent element 27 appears blue at the left and red at the right, which is the reverse of the order of the colors of the filter 22. Thus, in order to reverse the order of colors with regard to a pair of light fluxes, such fluxes should cross each other forward of the filter 22. The sectional shape of the transparent element is so determined that refraction is given to the cylindrical lenslike transparent element so as to provide the above-mentioned effects within a certain range of distances from said transparent element, where the eye is likely to be positioned.

In the device described above, since the order of the color is reversed at parts of the transparent element and since the filter which gives changes of colors is rotating within the shade, the figures change their colors in complicated and beautiful manner as if they were flowing.

In FIG. 12, a thin case 41, which is the body of a screen, houses therein fluorescent lamps 44, 44', a colored filter 46, an idler rollers 45, 450' supporting said filter 46, a drive roller 45" supporting and driving said filter 46, a reduction gear 47 and a motor 48 for rotating said drive roller 45".

Pattern plates 42 are provided at each of the four faces of the case 1, of which only one pattern plate is shown in the drawing. The patterns 43 or said pattern plate 42 are formed by cylindrical lenslike transparent elements, the cross sections of which are shown in FIGS. 13a and 13b. These transparent elements may be made of a plastic material molded as a single unit, as shown in FIGS. 13a, or separated into several units as shown in FIG. 13b. Any desired shape of a pattern may be formed by these elements. Further, the patterns need not have parallel edges. On the contrary, various desired modifications can be employed to make up a detailed inner structure for a pattern as by cutting out appropriate portions or by inserting nontransparent materials.

The pattern plates 42 should preferably be made of nontransparent materials such as wood or metal, in order to increase the efr'ect of the color variation.

The patterns constituted by the cylindrical lenslike transparent elements are illuminated by the fluorescent lamps 44 and 44 from the inside through the filter 46 and, if desired, through a diffuser plate of an acrylic resin arranged between the filter 46 and the fluorescent lamps. The filter 46 is wound around the rollers arranged at the four corners of the screen to form an endless tape. This endless tape is circulated within the screen by the action of the drive roller 45" which is actuated by the motor 48. The filter 46 is advantageously a film, such as cellophane, in which desired colors such as, for example, red, yellow and green are pieced together at appropriate intervals.

According to the invention, the cylindrical lenslike transparent elements 43 make the color variation due to the circulation of the filter 46 more complicated and beautiful.

As explained above with reference to FIG. 11, the flow of the color variation appearing on the cylindrical lenslike transparent element is partially reversed, by the effect of the local difference of the refractive power of said element depending upon the distance between the filter and the related element. Thus, observers can see a complicated and beautiful flowing color variation.

Further, it is possible in this embodiment to make the color variation more complicated and splendid, for example, by adding a vertically circulating second filter or by using modified forms of said cylindrical lenslike transparent elements.

In FIG. 14, reference numeral 62 indicates a letter of an advertisement. In FIG. 15, a vertical section of a cylindrical lenslike transparent element fonning one of the letters of said advertisement is illustrated.

In FIGS. 16 and 17 reference numbers 64 indicates a durable colored reflective film such as Teflon plated by vacuum evaporation. Such film arranged behind the figures and letters functions as a source of illumination by reflecting the outdoor li ht.

The electric circuit is so constructed that the motor 70 drives a shaft 72 and a sprocket 68 and thereby the film 64 moves through guide members 66, 66', so that it moves to the front of the case in the daytime when the sufficient outdoor light can be obtained, while it moves to the bottom of the case in the night when sufiicient light is not available.

A reference numeral 65 indicates a colored transparent film for the night illumination, which film is moved about four shafts 69 by means of a motor 71. The light from a fluorescent lamp mounted on the upper or bottom face of the case is directed to the back of letters or figures at the front of the case through the colored film.

In FIG. 18, elements D, R and C, are respectively a diode, a resistance and a condenser which collectively constitute a rectifying circuit. P is a photoelectric element such as CdS.

cell. Re is a relay. E is an electrical power source. S and S are microswitches. Motor 70 is a direct current motor for driving the reflective film 64. Motor 7 B is a motor for driving the transparent colored film 65. FL is a fluorescent lamp.

The operation of this device is as follows:

In the daytime, photoelectric element P receives plenty of light and thereby electric current will flow in the relay Re, for energizing the same. When the three contacts CA, CB and CC of the relay are thus connected, as shown in FIG. 18, by solid lines, the current from the electric source E flows through the motor 70 from right to left in the drawing and the reflective film 64 is brought out to the front of the case. This action continues until the end of the reflective film pushes and opens the normally closed microswitch S When the microswitch S is opened, no electric current flows to the motor 70, which thereby stops operating, and the reflective film 64 is maintained at its position at the front of the case.

In the night when the light becomes scarce, the resistance of the photoelectric element P increases and current which is sufficient to excite the relay Re does not flow thereto, so that the contacts CA, CB and CC are connected as shown in the drawing by dotted lines. At this time, the current flows from left to right in the drawing through the direct current motor 70, which drives the sprocket 68 in the direction opposed to the former action, and the reflective film 64 is carried to the bottom of the case. This action stopswhen the reflective film 64 pushes and opens the microswitch 8,. The then reflective film 64 is maintained at the bottom of the case. At the same time, by connection of contact CC of the relay, alternating current flows to the motor 71 for driving the transparent colored film 65 and also to the fluorescent lamp FL, which lights the fluorescent lamp and rotates the film 65. Thereby the cylindrical lenslike refractive elements formed as the letters and figures in front of the case are illuminated by the colored light emerging from inside the case. As this stage, in case the colored film is provided with various colors as has been described, the letters and figures change in color as time passes while the film is rotating.

When the morning comes again and sufficient light strikes the photoelectric element and due to the action of the relay, the motor 71 stops and the reflective film 64 is carried back to the front face of the case to back up the letters and figures. Thus, the letters and figures are again colored by reflective light due to the reflective plate.

As described above, according to the invention, it is possible to realize a simple and cheap outdoor advertisement device which gives effective illumination for day and night by means of automatic switching.

When the above-described cylindrical lenslike element 62 are observed with the light emerging from the inside through the rotating film with the combined colors, the refraction of the letters and figures in relation to the direction of the line of sight is different and so the border of the combined colors does not form a straight line. Further, the variation of the speed of the colors is such that a beautiful flowing appearance is given to observers.

In the above embodiment, the reflective film for illuminating in the daytime is stationary. However, it is of course possible to combine colors on such film and circulate it so that it also provides the effect of a flowing appearance.

This invention also relates to an advertisement and prize contest apparatus whichis to be set up at a shop front, show window or the like, for the purpose of advertisement. This apparatus is to attract the attention of customers and passers-by by utilizing their interest in contests, thereby impressing upon them the firm name, trade name and other information relating to the advertiser. Furthermore, the apparatus promotes the advertising function more effectively by providing more beauty and decor.

The apparatus according to this aspect of the invention also comprises a cylindrical lenslike transparent refractor for inducing the observers attention in the advertisement, and means for producing a colorful flowing-color effect.

In addition to the above features, the apparatus of this invention provides a problem which can be solved when the observer gazes at the apparatus for a while (for instance, about one minute). Thus, passers-by will stop at the apparatus due to the attraction of the beauty of the apparatus and the prize contest and will gaze at the apparatus for a time necessary to get the answer to the problem or quiz. Accordingly, a strong impression of the object to be advertised will be gotten.

The apparatus of this invention facilitates exchanging the species of quiz owing to the simplicity of the mechanism. Above all, the apparatus can be used permanently and simply for its decor or as an ornament irrespective of the function of the quiz or contest.

The apparatus of this embodiment of the invention comprises cylindrical lenslike transparent refractors fixed in a front panel of a case and composed of letters and/or patterns concerning the firm name and/or trade name to be advertised, a transparent illumination filter composed of a plurality of colors for giving color variation and letters and/or patterns drawn onthe filter for constituting the content of a quiz, means for driving said filter, and means of illuminating the refractors from the inside.

As shown in FIG. -l9, the case of the apparatus is formed with a cylindrical shape having a diameter of about 30-40 cm. or with a cubic shape having a length of about 30-40 cm. In a front panel 81 (FIG. of the case, there are fixed cylindrical lenslike transparent refractors 85 which are in the form of letters or patterns symbolizing the object to be advertised. On the inner surface of a back plate 83, are mounted fluorescent lamps 88 (FIG. 22) and other necessary mechanisms. The lamps 88 internally illuminate the letters or patterns 85 through a multicolor filter 82 and, if desired, through a diffusing plate (not shown) provided in front of the lamps.

The cylindrical lenslike transparent refractors are a combination of various cylindrical lenses having successively varying directions of the generatrices. They have refractive power in their width direction. The outer diameter of the curvature may be varied. They are made of a transparent material such a acrylic resin as described above.

As shown in FIG. 21, the color filter 82 is composed of a plurality of color films. Furthermore, there are provided, on the filter 82, letters or patterns 90 relating to the object to be advertised or to the quiz contest. According to the rotation of the color filter 82 by a motor 86 through gears 80 and 89 and shaft 84, as shown in FIG. 19, the letters or patterns can be observed through the cylindrical lenslike transparent refractors 85. Owing to the refractive power of the refractors, the letters or patterns written on the filter will naturally be distorted when viewed through the refractors. This irregular distortion will promote the interest to read or recognize what is written. When thecolor filter 82 is rotated by the motor 86, the light directed onto a certain point of the refractor is gradually changed in its color with lapse of time. The speed of such color variation viewed from the outside is different according to the portion of the refractor, since the refractive power at each portion of the same is different. Thus, the observer sees a splendid flowing-color effect having different changing speeds according to portions of the letters or patterns.

The apparatus which is internally illuminated by the fluorescent lamps 88, on rotating of the color filter 82, can

thus provide an effective flowing color effect by the combination of the color change of the filter 82 and the different refractive power of the cylindrical lenslike transparent refractor. The apparatus also provides an effective and attractive quiz since the letters or patterns 90 written on the color filter 82 are variously distorted by the different refractive powers of the refractors 85 according to the rotation of the color filter 82. It is, of course, clear that the letters or patterns written on the filter must be located so that they appear just behind the refractors 85.

If the apparatus of this invention is set up in a shop from or window, it can attract remarkably strong attention and make an intensive impression with respect to the object to be advertised. It will be clear that the color filter 82 can be easily removed for changing the species of quiz, after an adequate period has been lapsed.

This invention further relates to an advertisement plate which affords a color melting effect at the adjoining of the colors by utilizing reflective light, especially the reflection of daylight or a spot light.

Conventional advertisement plates utilizing reflective light, for instance, painted advertisement plates do not give as vivid an impression as those utilizing permeable light, and so the former is inconspicuous as compared with the latter. A further object of this invention is to provide a device for reflective advertisement or an advertisement plate by utilizing reflective light which gives a color impression as vivid as by utilizing permeable light. Further, the conventional advertisementv plate which does not have any movable mechanism only gives a static color impression, while the advertisement plate of this embodiment of the invention provides flowing sensitivity of color though having no movable mechanism.

According to this invention, the advertisement plate comprises a plate having letters and/or figures formed by cylindrical lenslike transparent elements and durable colored reflective films for backing said elements such as Teflon or the like, plated by vacuum evaporation.

The letters and/or figures formed by the above-mentioned cylindrical lenslike elements are the main constituent of the advertisement and outdoor light is reflected by the reflective films after passing through said elements, whereafter it comes to the observers eye as colored light after passing through the elements from the inside to the outside thereof. At this stage, since the colored layer of vacuum evaporation has a very large coefficient of reflection unlike the original paints, the incident light can effectively be changed to colored reflective light and proceeds towards the outside. Therefore, a strong color-impression can be obtained as if it resulted from penneable light emerging from a light source contained inside. In this reflective film, a plurality of colors can be combined in desired shapes.

Thus, when a plurality of colors are combined, colors seen through the surface of the cylindrical lenslike element are partly reversed in the order of colors of the reflective film, and they vary as if they are flowing, according to the direction of the observers eye. Besides, it is observed as if the colors are mixed with each other, owing to the local difference of refractive power of said element. In this way, an effective flowing sensitivity of colors can be obtained.

In the advertisement plate of this embodiment of the invention, it is preferable that as shown in FIG. 23, cylindrical lenslike transparent elements formed in the shape of letters and/or figures to be advertised are provided at the front plate of a thin case and reflective films are adhered to the backplate.

In order to simplify the following explanation, it is supposed that a cylindrical lenslike element is backed by a reflective film where two colors are pieced together along a straight line.

The reflective film 102, which is provided at the back of the cylindrical lenslike element with a suitable spacing from the latter, is a metallic colored layer with 'a large coefiicient of reflection which is obtained by performing vacuum evaporation on a sheet of a synthetic resin such as Teflon, or which is made of materials having silver metallic color such as an aluminum foil. The vacuum-evaporated layer is most advantageous, since it provides the various colors to be desired and has a large coefficient of reflection and is durable. The aluminum foil when it is used is crumpled, and is very impressive with the enlargement effect of the cylindrical lens.

Since such colored layers having a large coefficient of reflection are utilized in this invention, the incident light is hardly absorbed and is effectively changed to reflective light, so that it gives a strong impression to observers as if there were a light source at the inside. Particularly, the effect becomes remarkable owing to the presence of the lens. If a light source such as a spotlight is used as an external light source without depending on daylight and the incident condition of the light could be changed by moving said light source, an impressive advertisement equal to neon signs can be obtained even in the night. At this time, the effect of flowing sensitivity to be described hereinafter will be greater.

As described above and as shown in FIG. 24, a cylindrical lenslike element 101 is provided forward of the reflective film 102 having two colors A,B combined with each other along a straight line so that reflection changes according to the shape of said cylindrical lenslike element and to the entrance position of the light in the cross section of FIG. 24.

For instance, as shown in FIG. 25(a) a curved surface is set up so that an image (it may be considered that this is a point existing at infinity) of the observers eye through cylindrical lenslike element 101 is made at P, by rays of light 103 and 103 passing near the outside diameter and is made at P by rays 104 and 104 passing near the center so there is a substantial space between P and P In other words, the cylindrical lenslike element 101 purposely has a great deal of spherical aberration. The reflective film 102 is arranged between P and P Taking into consideration the light coming into the eye from the reflective film under such condition, as is clear from FIG. 25(b), the vicinity of rays 103 and 104 is colored with color A reflected from reflective film of color A, while the vicinity of rays 103' and 104' is colored with color B in the same way.

That is, the color appearing on the surface of the cylindrical lenslike element is partly reversed as shown in FIG. 25(b) and besides the change of refraction power along the curved surface is continuous and so the seam of two colors appearing on the curved surface can be observed as if the colors were mixed. This effect will become greater if the seam of reflective film is made irregular.

Then, when the direction of the eye is in the position as shown in FIG. 26(a) slightly moved from the position shown in FIG. 25(11), the color appearing on the surface of the cylindrical lenslike element is observed as shown in FIG. 26(b).

Further, it is clear that when the eye moves in one direction, all the surface of the element is observed in color A while when the eye moves toward the opposite direction the opposite effect is produced.

Besides, when the transfer of the eye from the position in FIG. 25(a) to the position in FIG. 26(a) is continuously made, the color change appearing on the surface of the cylindrical lenslike element 101 would be seen as if the colors were flow- Though an explanation as to this last embodiment of the invention has been given for the case of a reflective film having two colors, it is to be clear that the effect of more complicated and beautiful color arrangements can be obtained by increasing the number of colors of the reflective film.

What is claimed is:

1. Display apparatus comprising a casing, including a front display panel with fixed, cylindrical lenslike transparent refractors arranged in the form of display indicium, a back panel, a one-color light source mounted on said back panel, a replaceable, multicolor filter rotatably supported between said light source and filter, said filter being a flat plate lying in a plane perpendicular to said light source and rotatable about a central axis perpendicular to said plane, means for rotating said plate about said central axis, 881d plate including angular sectors emanating from said central axis and having respective, individual colors, and indicia means superposed on said angular sectors and positioned for exposure through the transparent refractors during rotation of said filter, said refractive elements having different refractive powers to produce irregular distortion of said indicia means.

2. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source comprises at least one elongated fluorescent lamp.

3. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said indicia means is arranged in a circular array around said central axis.

4. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plate is circular.

5. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display indicium and said indicia means are correlated to provide a colorful, flowing appearance of recognizable characters in front of the casing. 

1. Display apparatus comprising a casing, including a front display panel with fixed, cylindrical lenslike transparent refractors arranged in the form of display indicium, a back panel, a one-color light source mounted on said back panel, a replaceable, multicolor filter rotatably supported between said light source and filter, said filter being a flat plate lying in a plane perpendicular to said light source and rotatable about a central axis perpendicular to said plane, means for rotating said plate about said central axis, said plate including angular sectors emanating from said central axis and having respective, individual colors, and indicia means superposed on said angular sectors and positioned for exposure through the transparent refractors during rotation of said filter, said refractive elements having different refractive powers to produce irregular distortion of said indicia means.
 2. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source comprises at least one elongated fluorescent lamp.
 3. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said indicia means is arranged in a circular array around said central axis.
 4. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plate is circular.
 5. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display indicium and said indicia means are correlated to provide a colorful, flowing appearance of recognizable characters in front of the casing. 